The Netherlands, is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, located in Western Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.

Area
41,528 sq km (16,034 sq miles).

Population
16,254,933 (official estimate 2004).

Population Density
479.9 per sq km.

Capital
Amsterdam. Population: 735,562 (2003). Seat of Government: The Hague. Population: 463,826 (2003).

Geography
The Netherlands shares borders to the south with Belgium and to the east with Germany, while the North Sea lies to the north and west. Large areas of The Netherlands have been reclaimed from the sea and consequently one-fifth of the country lies below sea level. The country is flat and level and is criss-crossed by rivers and canals. Areas reclaimed from the sea, known as polders, are extremely fertile. The landscape is broken by the forest of Arnhem, the bulb fields in the west, the lakes of the central and northern areas, and coastal dunes that are among the most impressive in Europe.

Language
Dutch is the official language. English, German and French are widely spoken.